Entries tagged with: WesAnderson

Wes Anderson's new film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, is in wider release across the country now. While whimsical and all that sort of thing you'd expect from the director who has a very distinct style, this is more of an adventure film than he's done before. For those who find him too precious, you might like this one.

This is also his first film not to have any modern pop in it -- though as most of the film is set in 1932 it makes sense -- but lontime collaborator / music supervisor Randall Poster has filled it with period music, and Alexandre Desplat's score fits the tone perfectly. If you've ever wanted to know more about Anderson's music choices, you're in luck. Randall Poster will be participating in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) today at 5 PM EST.

If you're of a certain age, Zach Braff's Garden State, and most specifically its soundtrack which features Coldplay, The Shins, Iron Wine covering The Postal Service, and more, is probably a little generation-defining (love it or hate it). Ten years later, he's going for it again with Wish I Was Here, the first film he'll be directing since Garden State. Zach tells Entertainment Weekly that the very Zach Braff-sounding soundtrack will feature a song by Cat Power (written by Coldplay's Chris Martin), plus original music from Bon Iver, The Shins and more. Will this be be the new sappy soundtrack to a generation of indie-discovering teens?

The film hits theaters on July 18 in NYC and LA, and July 25 everywhere else. You can check out the Kickstarter video for Wish I Was Here below.

Speaking of Garden State being generation-defining, it's one of the things namedropped in former SPIN editor (and NY Times writer) Mark Spitz's new book Twee: The Gentle Revolution in Music, Books, Television, Fashion, and Film. The description reads:

Marc Spitz explores the first great cultural movement since Hip Hop: an old-fashioned and yet highly modern aesthetic that's embraced internationally by teens, twenty and thirty-somethings and even some Baby Boomers; creating hybrid generation known as Twee. Via exclusive interviews and years of research, Spitz traces Generation Twee's roots from the Post War 50s to its dominance in popular culture today.

In Twee, journalist and cultural observer Marc Spitz surveys the rising Twee movement in music, art, film, fashion, food and politics and examines the cross-pollinated generation that embodies it--from aging hipsters to nerd girls, indie snobs to idealistic industrialists. Spitz outlines the history of twee--the first strong, diverse, and wildly influential youth movement since Punk in the '70s and Hip Hop in the '80s--showing how awkward glamour and fierce independence has become part of the zeitgeist.

Wes Anderson's new film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, opens today in limited release -- in NYC it's at the Regal Union Square Stadium 14 and the Lincoln Square 13. With eight films under his belt, Anderson's whimsical style is as distinctive as anyone in the industry. One of his signatures is his use of music, and that goes from the harpsichord-laden scores to the soundtracks filled with impeccably curated pop songs.

While The Grand Budapest Hotel is his first not to use modern pop (frequent collaborator Alexandre Desplat did the score which can be streamed at Rdio), his other films are jam-packed with it. Indiewirereports that ABCKO will release a box set with the soundtracks to all eight of his film. This could include songs featured in movies that didn't make the cut for their official soundtracks. Details, beyond that's its happening, haven't surfaced yet, but we're going to assume the packaging will be exquisite.

Further reading: Rolling Stone cornered longtime Anderson film music supervisor Randal Poster to talk about his favorite music moments in his filmography. What's your favorite Wes Anderson movie music moment?

UK indie pop outfit Veronica Falls, who are touring in 2013 with great new bandCheatahs, just spoke to us about their ten favorite things of 2012 music, film, and TV-wise. It was singer/guitarist James Hoare, specifically, who sent his list over, and he really likes Girls. He's got the single for "My Ma" by the now-defunct band, the solo album by frontman Christopher Owens (which actually comes out next year, but we'll let it slide), AND the television show of the same name all in his top 10 list. He's also got fellow indie poppers Mac DeMarco and Woods, and reveals his classic rock soft spot by including the new Rolling Stones song.

Veronica Falls' tour with Cheatahs hits NYC on March 8 at Bowery Ballroom with Cold Showers and tickets for that show are still available.

Flying Lotus, whose great Until the Quiet Comes has been getting the credit it deserves on year-end lists by NME, Uncut, NPR, and Pitchfork, just made a list of his top ten films that have Criterion Collection editions. The whole list with commentary is on Criterion's website but you can see his picks below.

In related news, Flying Lotus' rap alter-egoCaptain Murphyrecently tweeted that he'll be in Austin this March for SXSW 2013. This announcement comes after SXSW's own recent announcement of artists which included Rhye, Savages, Flatbush Zombies, Deap Vally, Angel Haze, and more.

The Whitney Museum hosts Vivian Girls and These Are Powers, the final free Dan Graham-related show. These Are Powers will "feature Providence Dance Troupe JAZZ HAND JOB who will perform original choreography to [their] live music". The dance troupe will join them again Saturday at Secret Project Robot.

SATURDAY AUGUST 1st

3 to 7pm- Rummage:
A handmade furniture show on river street with food and drink
curated by Gabby Shaw

9 to 2am- Dance of the Sugarplum Ferry Party:
Fountains and Kiddie pools with
These Are Powers, Javelin, Mirror Mirror, DJ cool Places Sound System
hosted by Live With Animals and Secret Project Robot $8